2,100 Asanas: The Complete Yoga Poses

(Elliott) #1

for the creation of the world, he is the first being to appear at the dawn of each universe to create it
based on its subconscious conditioning: the Brahma of the present universe is called Prajapati
(progenitor), the predecessor of humankind
brahmachari = a religious student vowed to celibacy and abstinence; one who is constantly moving
(charin) in brahman (The Supreme Spirit); one who sees divinity in all
brahmacharya = chastity or teacher of the soul, abstinence, a life of celibacy, religious study and
self-restraint, recognition of Brahma in everything; one of the yamas
Brahman = the absolute, or divinity itself, infinite consciousness, universal soul, deep reality, the
reality that cannot be reduced to a deeper layer; the Supreme Being, the cause of the Universe, the
all-pervading spirit of the Universe
Buddha = enlightened one


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chakora = a type of bird like a partridge (Greek partridge), moonbeam bird, said to feed on
moonbeams
chakra = literally, a wheel or circle, the wheel of a wagon; metaphorically, psycho-energetic subtle
centers of the subtle body in which energy flows, located along the spine, believed to transform
cosmic energy into spiritual energy when activated. Energy (prana) is said to flow in the human
body through three main channels (nadis), namely, sushumna, pingala, and ida; sushumna is
situated inside the spinal column. Pingala and ida start respectively from the right and the left
nostrils, move up to the crown of the head, and course downward to the base of the spine. These
two nadis intersect with each other and also the sushumna. These junctions of the nadis are known
as chakras of the flywheels, which regulate the body mechanism. The important chakras are: (a)
muladhara (mula = root, source; adhara = support, vital part) situated in the pelvis, above the
anus; (b) svadhishtana (sva = vital force, soul; adhishtana = seat of abode) situated above the
organs of gestation; (c) manipuraka (manipura = navel) situated in the navel; (d) manas (mind)
and (e) surya (the sun) which are situated between the navel and the heart; (f) anahata (=
unbeaten) situated in the cardiac area; (g) vishuddha (= pure) situated in the pharyngeal region; (h)
ajna (= command) situated between the eyebrows; (i) sahasrara (= a thousand) which is called a
thousand-petaled lotus in the cerebral cavity; and (j) lalata (= forehead) which is at the top of the
forehead.
chalana = to churn
chamatkara = delight or savoring; the refined pleasure that a connoisseur takes in a lovely poem,
painting, or fine wine. Chamatkarasana is translated as “Wild Thing Pose” probably because the
posture looks like someone who has just seen something so amazing and beautiful that they are
“bowled over” or “blown away.”
chandra (candra) = moon
chapa = bow, rainbow, arc
chatur (chatuari, chatura) = four
chatush = four times
chatushpada = quadruped
chikitsa = therapy

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